Celebrating Volunteer Week 2023

News Story
| 9/25/2023

Crowe MacKay proudly celebrated Volunteer Week from September 18 to 22. We encouraged our team members to share how they've positively impacted the community in 2023 and inspired our offices to unite and volunteer as a team. As we conclude another successful Volunteer Week, over 50 dedicated team members celebrated their volunteer efforts or actively contributed to community initiatives, leaving a lasting impact. Our firm is immensely #CroweProud, recognizing that our collective efforts have contributed to over 220 hours of serving our communities.

With offices spanning northern and western Canada, our teams have dedicated their time to supporting various local organizations and initiatives. Groups supported include Helen's Acres, National Tree Day, Ride For Dad, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Sturgeon Public School Board, Fort Edmonton Foundation, Cops for Cancer - Tour De Coast, Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue, and others. Below is a glimpse of the incredible impact our team has made in 2023.


Uniting to Make a Lasting Impact

From tree planting to shoreline cleanup, Crowe MacKay offices supported various local organizations and initiatives, leaving a lasting impact in their communities.

Celebrating Volunteer Week

Harvesting Hope and Giving Back to the Community

Kelowna team members rolled up their sleeves, volunteering at Helen’s Acres. This not-for-profit farm donates its produce to local Kelowna social agencies. Under the crisp Kelowna sun, the team harvested carrots and raspberries, picked potatoes, and weeded vegetable rows. To extend support beyond volunteering, our Kelowna office also generously donated $1,500. When asked why volunteering with local organizations such as Helen's Acres is important, Moe Rynard, local CSR representative, shares that "our office is successful because of our community. We value and understand this relationship and prioritize giving back to the community that supports us.”

Sea-ing the Difference

For the fourth consecutive year, team members from our Vancouver office took to the shorelines, partaking in the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup. In total, the team dedicated nine hours to collecting litter. The group filled ten garbage bags of trash, all retrieved from the shoreline in front of the Vancouver office. The team’s hard work and dedication made the area cleaner and safer. They reduced the amount of waste contamination in our oceans, lowering its negative impact on sea life.

National Tree Day

Branching Out for a Brighter Future

Our Edmonton team truly branched out of their comfort zone this Volunteer Week. The group planted trees in Edmonton’s Cavanagh neighbourhood as part of Tree Canada's National Tree Day initiative. Alongside community members, our team aided in planting 1,000 trees. When asked what volunteerism meant to the Edmonton team, local CSR lead Jennifer Sushetski emphasized that "participating in National Tree Day allowed our team to connect with nature and have the satisfaction of knowing our volunteerism will benefit our community for years to come.” The reality of Alberta’s wildfires in 2023 prompted Jennifer to share that “replacing the trees lost this year is more important than ever to help promote biodiversity.” 


Celebrating Selflessness

Volunteer Week is not just about team initiatives. We also celebrated the fantastic solo volunteers who selflessly gave up their time outside the office.

Cody Lee

Making Dreams Come True and Saving Lives, One Wish and Ride at a Time

Cody Lee from our Edmonton office selflessly dedicates her time to two organizations. Firstly, she volunteers with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This international organization provides life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses. As a Wish Granter, she helps with granting children’s biggest wishes. Additionally, she also volunteers as an Event Coordinator with Ride for Dad, an organization tirelessly fighting against prostate cancer to save men's lives. Cody’s been involved with the charity since 2008, joining the executive committee in 2017 and proudly acts as the current secretary. When asked why she chooses to donate her time, Cody shares that "volunteering for me is about empathy, compassion, and supporting others in their time of need. It's supporting your family, friends, co-workers, and community.” She also expresses how she hopes her volunteerism inspires those around her, especially her children. “I love being able to show my children that through small acts of kindness and selflessness, you can truly make a difference in someone's life.” 

History in the Making

Paul Harris, Edmonton Partner, dedicates his time and expertise to helping preserve the history of Edmonton and the surrounding area through his membership with the Fort Edmonton Foundation. As a standing board member of the Fort Edmonton Foundation for over seven years, he assists in raising funds to support capital projects and initiatives which help to create a living history experience. This year, the Fort Edmonton Foundation hosted its first-ever golf tournament. To help make the event a success, Paul dedicated additional time to the foundation, sitting on the tournament’s organizing committee. 

Celebrating Volunteer Week

Keeping the Good Times Rolling in the Face of Adversity

Rebecca Spiers from our Sunshine Coast office has spent an inspirational 100+ hours volunteering for the Sunshine Coast Cops for Cancer. She proudly serves as the treasurer for the fundraising committee and, through her efforts, has been part of a team that, this year alone, raised a phenomenal $43,000. These funds went towards pediatric cancer research and were donated to Camp Goodtimes, an extraordinary camp experience in a medically supervised, safety-focused, and supportive environment for kids and teens with cancer.

The Purr-fect Way to Give Back

Emma Dinh and Daniela Aoyama from our Vancouver office volunteer at the Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA). Their love for animals encouraged them to go the extra mile by donating their time helping their furry friends. Their role in the organization includes:

  • Maintaining the vaccination records for all the kittens at VOKRA
  • Sending foster parents reminders when their kittens are due for vaccination
  • Assigning vaccinators
  • Updating medical records

As a proud volunteer, Emma shares that "volunteering connects me with the people who share the same values and are committed to making our community a better place. Even helping with the smallest things can make a difference to the lives of others in need.”

Putting Your Expertise to Good Use

Edmonton Partner Niels Jensen puts his accounting skills to use outside of the office. He is a volunteer board member on the Audit and Finance Committee for the Sturgeon Public School Board. Selflessly, he gives back approximately 24 hours per year of his time to support the group. Niels is the perfect example of how we can use our areas of expertise to benefit the communities we live and serve. 

 

Crowe MacKay’s involvement in community service is not limited to Volunteer Week. We are committed to supporting charitable initiatives year-round. Reinforcing the importance of our core values: We Care. We Share. We Invest. We Grow., we aim to continuously provide our communities with lasting value both in and outside the office.


Crowe MacKay’s Employee Volunteer Program

Crowe MacKay is committed to Corporate Social Responsibility and providing opportunities to team members to give back in meaningful ways. Each employee receives eight paid hours to volunteer at an organization of their choice; encouraging them to stay connected to causes that resonate with their personal values.

 

About Crowe MacKay LLP

Serving northern and western Canada for over 50 years, Crowe MacKay LLP is one of the leading accounting and advisory firms in the country. With a team of 400 across eight offices, we are a vibrant team of trusted advisors. We believe strong relationships are the cornerstone to success and strive to create innovative solutions for our clients in both private and public sectors. We have a passion for quality in the services we deliver to our community and clients from a wide range of industries. A firm focused on people first, Crowe MacKay’s corporate culture is built on maximizing potential for clients and staff. Our belief is that we are truly our best when we invest in our people and communities. Committed to showing we care about the people we serve through our work and actions, we strive to make a difference in the regions we serve.

About Crowe Global

One of the top 10 accounting networks in the world, Crowe Global has over 200 independent accounting and advisory firms in more than 145 countries. For over 100 years, Crowe has made smart decisions for multinational clients working across borders. Our leaders work with governments, regulatory bodies, and industry groups to shape the future of the profession worldwide. Their exceptional knowledge of business, local laws, and customs provide lasting value to clients undertaking international projects. At Crowe, the professionals all share one commitment, to deliver excellence.